The most breathtaking abandoned houses in Canada
These incredible abandoned homes in Canada, whether they were originally thriving communities or beloved homes, are eerie remnants of their former lives. Their decaying exteriors, dusty passageways, and long-forgotten contents, left to fall into decay, tell part of the story of how they came to be left behind.
Explore Canada’s abandoned gems by clicking or scrolling to learn about the intriguing tales that are kept behind their doors.
Guyitt House: Ontario
Guyitt House, formerly thought to be Canada’s most photographed house, was an intriguing artifact from the past. The mysterious deserted house was situated along the lakeshore in Chatham-Kent, southwest Ontario, not far from the historic Talbot Trail. After a struggle to save it, the historic monument was tragically dismantled in June 2023, despite the throngs of people who came to take pictures of this run-down home.
Relatively little was previously known about the home’s past, despite its appeal. In 2018, CBC assigned one of its reporters, Meg Roberts, to investigate the fascinating residence; the piece quickly gained widespread attention. Roberts made contact with Peter Anderson, the estate’s last owner, whose parents, Roy and Ethel Guyitt, had purchased the home back in 1908. A wonderful time spent in the residence with his family is interspersed throughout Peter’s memories of his early years.
Guyitt House: Ontario
The old house, which was supposedly constructed between 1840 and 1850, was kept in the family over time, but eventually the weather took its toll on it. Even when Peter was officially recognized as the owner, he lacked the funds to make all the necessary repairs. Even so, Peter continued to make sure the front lawn of the house was kept up over the years, honoring his grandparents.
Sadly, local lawmakers became aware of the home’s precarious condition. In August 2022, the local government was purportedly notified of a concern regarding the structural safety of the home. Officials informed Peter in September of the same year that he had 14 days to either make the house structurally sound or demolish it in accordance with the property standards bylaw.
The municipality turned down Peter’s appeal in May 2023, citing the fact that one of their own inspectors had subsequently discovered that the property had broken property rules, negating the significance of the initial complaint even though the committee had recognized the site’s tourism potential.
They emphasized that the public is protected under the bylaw. In order to “pursue options to preserve and protect the property and/or to complete work to bring the property into compliance with the bylaw,” Peter was granted until October 20, 2023. But Peter conceded to the inevitable in June.
Paul Lucina, the chief municipal building authority for Chatham-Kent, stated, “Unfortunately, the condition of this structure was such that, in our opinion, it was beyond repair and the only path forward was to demolish it.” “At the end of the day, we need to protect the people of Chatham-Kent,” he stated to the CBC.
Peter didn’t change his outlook on the house’s downfall. “All those things, you wish you can bring it back, but you can’t,” he said. “It can only leave memories.”
